ROSENERGOATOM TO MAINTAIN STATE CONTROL OVER FOREIGN ENERGY ASSETS

MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - Federal State Unitary Enterprise (FGUP) "Russian state concern for production of electric and thermal energy on nuclear power plants" ("Rosenergoatom") believes it necessary to preserve state control over foreign energy assets being bought now, after the reformation of Russian electric energy industry, concern director general Oleg Sarayev told a Wednesday press conference.

Russian joint-stock company "Inter RAO EES" is the agent to buy energy assets abroad; 40% of its stock belongs to Rosenergoatom, 60% to RAO EES Rossii (Russian unified energy systems).

The head of the concern said RAO EES Rossii coordinates its plans to buy foreign energy assets with Rosenergoatom.

He specified that RAO EES Rossii first of all demands the concern's expert opinion when discussing deals to buy foreign assets where there are nuclear power plants.

In Sarayev's words, RAO EES Rossii did not coordinate with Rosenergoatom the purchase of energy assets in Georgia, as at that time the concern was not a shareholder of RAO EES. At the same time, Rosenergoatom consulted RAO EES Rossii on issues of purchasing Armenia's energy assets. They discussed the participation in a tender in Slovakia to purchase Slowenske Elektrarne energy company.

Minority shareholders of RAO EES Rossii suggest, after the energy holding's reformation, carrying out proportional divisions of foreign assets between the present shareholders. Representatives of the majority shareholder - the state - suggest selling these assets to the Federal Network Company.